Vice President Sara Duterte, along with 15 others, is facing plunder and graft complaints over the misuse of ₱612.5 million worth of confidential funds.

On Friday, December 12, civil society leaders and a coalition of priests and rights advocates filed multiple criminal complaints—including bribery, malversation, graft and corruption, the Culpable Violation of the Constitution, and the betrayal of public trust— before the Office of the Ombudsman. RH Edwin Duque reported that the evidence received by the said office was aboard an L300.

Speaking to reporters, Fr. Flavie Villanueva said that as Vice President, Duterte should be able to explain where the confidential funds from the Department of Education (DepEd) were used.

“In light of the many calls of the Filipino people for accountability, we should not forget the many instances that the second-highest officer of the country has curtailed away questions and investigations of her anomalous use of confidential funds,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva also mentioned that Duterte has blatantly “refused responsibility to answer the people,” specifically during the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing in 2024. In turn, the church leader said that the Vice President has continuously undermined the essence of public service.

“Her indiscriminate misuse of public funds without fear of accountability is outright criminal and a perfect example of the betrayal of public trust,” he explained.

“Today, we call upon the institution of the Ombudsman to put an end to this mockery of the system of checks and balances as enshrined in our Constitution. We fervently hope that our charges of plunder, malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and gross violation of the Constitution be upheld against Vice President Sara Duterte,” he added.

Duterte served as the Secretary of DepEd from June 2022 to July 2024. During which, major issues and controversies arose, such as the spending of P612.5 million in confidential funds linked to intelligence operations and the learning crisis.

Apart from Duterte, the respondents also named the following individuals:

• Office of the Vice President Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez

• Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Otorino

• Rosalynne Sanchez

• Juleita Villadelrey

• Gina Acosta

• Col. Raymund Dante Lachica

• Former OVP Spokesman Michael Wesley Poa

• Sunshine Charry Fajarda

• Former DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla

• Gloria Mercado

• Ma. Rhunna Catalan

• Edward Fajarda

• Ret. Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin

• Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco